A first for Szolnok’s Bagolyvár Game Park (Bagolyvár Vadaspark): the zoo turns into a glowing wonderland this winter, inviting you to wander among shimmering animal sculptures after sunset. From foxes and bears to a proud pride of LED-lit lions and monumental life-size deer, the park transforms into a nighttime safari the whole family can enjoy. Herds of luminous horses, glowing tunnels, and ready-made photo spots double as your backdrop. As the real animals settle in, the illuminated animal world wakes up, turning every evening into a memory-making stroll by the Tisza riverbank.
NEFAG Light Park (NEFAG Fénypark): The Park of Light Animals
Running from October 24, 2025, to February 1, 2026, the NEFAG Light Park (NEFAG Fénypark) – The Park of Light Animals – is the Szolnok stop of the DECOLED Story of Lights exhibition series. Over 200,000 bulbs and nearly 3.7 miles of light strands wrap a 96,875-square-foot route across the zoo, building a sparkling city of more than seventy installations. The concept leans into a deliberately gentle look: the emphasis is on nature and animals under the stars, not loud spectacle. Expect radiant foxes, bears, a lion pride, life-size deer, and silhouettes of birds, plus a light tunnel and playful photo stations that refresh the city’s evening rhythm.
Built Like a Show, Crafted Like a Studio
Pulling this off took concentrated teamwork: ten specialists completed the on-site build in about a week, investing roughly 800 work-hours, backed by more than twenty colleagues handling planning and logistics. The result? A twilight trail that feels immersive, hand-made, and quietly epic.
Voices Behind the Glow
“This exhibition isn’t just spectacular; it’s a community-maker — a new winter meeting point where families, friends, and visitors share the magic of light. I believe this light park brings new color to Szolnok’s cultural and tourist life and turns every winter evening into a celebration. We’re proud to be part of one of Hungary’s largest light exhibitions. Locals and neighbors alike will marvel at this show dreamed up in an impressive setting. Animals, lights, and shared moments — that’s the NEFAG Light Park (NEFAG Fénypark)!”
“The symbolism of animals has always been special to people — and light gives them new life. I believe visitors will feel like they’re on a fairytale safari where every step brings a new surprise,” added Eva Poláčková, managing director of DECOLED.
When to Go and What to Expect
The NEFAG Light Park (NEFAG Fénypark) at Bagolyvár Game Park (Bagolyvár Vadaspark) is open daily from October 24, 2025, to February 1, 2026, from 17:00 to 21:00. It’s closed on December 24–25 and December 31. Dogs aren’t allowed in the Light Park.
The walking loop is about 0.62 miles and typically takes around 60 minutes, but there’s no time limit. Handcrafted light installations range from life-size to larger-than-life, covering predators, birds, exotic animals, small mammals, and the much-photographed glowing horses. Light tunnels and themed photo points make it easy to collect envy-inducing shots — under archways, between horses, beside exotic predators, and with storybook sculptures that look straight out of a winter dream.
Family Night Out, Sorted
This is a crowd-pleaser for all ages. Kids get a fairytale bestiary and interactive photo stops. Adults get an atmospheric night walk under the stars, hot drinks, and a slow, magical pace through a zoo lit by hundreds of thousands of points of light. Whether you’re planning a family outing, a kid-led adventure, or a romantic stroll in a glow-drenched park, the NEFAG Light Park (NEFAG Fénypark) is designed for moments that stick.
Tickets and Passes
– Child, Student, Senior (65+): $7.90; Friday–Sunday + $1.36
– Adult: $8.99; Friday–Sunday + $1.36
– Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult + 3 children): $32.18; Friday–Sunday + $1.91
– Children under 2: Free
Season Pass (name-specific, unlimited entry for the full season): Child/Student/Senior: $24.23; Adult: $28.57. Tickets are available online or at the on-site ticket office.
Food, Drinks, and Local Flavors
There’s a snack bar inside Bagolyvár Game Park (Bagolyvár Vadaspark) for quick bites and drinks, plus pop-up vendors offering quality local products: chimney cake (kürtőskalács), artisanal sweets, craft beer, mulled wine, and spirits. Bring a warm jacket and a phone with plenty of battery — you’ll want more photos than you think.
Story of Lights and the DECOLED Touch
DECOLED, a family business founded in 1997 by Vítězslav Poláček and later joined by his wife, Eva Poláčková, and their son, also named Vítězslav, started in a garage and now manufactures and warehouses decorative lighting across more than 645,835 square feet. With over a thousand public installations, DECOLED has become a key player in the Czech and European markets, delivering projects in thirteen European countries.
The Story of Lights series blends emotion, design, and technology with site-specific storytelling — handcrafted light sculptures and carefully choreographed experiences. In 2025, the series lights up five Hungarian cities: Pécs, Szolnok, Gödöllő, Zalaegerszeg, and Fertőd.
Dates, Dates, Dates
The Szolnok run spans weekly windows from November 10 to February 1, including November 10–16, 17–23, 24–30; December 1–7, 8–14, 15–21, 22–23, 26–30; January 1–4, 5–11, 12–18, 19–25, 26–February 1. In short: if it’s a winter evening between late October and early February and the calendar doesn’t say December 24, 25, or 31, the lights are on from 17:00 to 21:00. See you under the glow.
